CEDAR RAPIDS—Federal and local officials join the groundbreaking ceremony for the new $75.6 million Convention Complex central to the economic recovery of the downtown area following historic floods in 2008.

Honorary speakers, acting U.S. Commerce Secretary, Rebecca Blank, and U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, John Fernandez, join local officials in the groundbreaking ceremony. The project received $35 million in funding representing the largest grant the EDA has ever awarded.

U.S. Representative Loebsack and Mayor Corbett delivered speeches that encourage the continued recovery and revitalization of Cedar Rapids and the positive economic impact the Convention Complex brings to the city.

Area Vice President of Hilton Worldwide, Tom Loughlin, joined the commemorative ceremony and donated the famous cookies from DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel.

The Cedar Rapids Convention Complex is slated to be open the spring of 2013, which will be the second largest convention and event center in the State of Iowa.